need help with big block motor swap

[stireson87]

hey guys i have a 72 long bed, it had a small block 350 in it. I got a great deal on a big block. My few questions i have is. Will i have any clearance issues where the current small block set compared to the big block. Also will the stock small block frame mounts work? it looks like they will but i am not sure. I am running headers so there shouldn't be any frame issues i would guess. My other question is will i have to move the motor back possible to have room up front since the motor has a long water pump, my small block had a long water pump and i have just enough room for ele. fan to water pump pulley. Any help would be awesome as i have tried looking and have no got to much help or answers to my questions.

[hugger6933]

Welcome to the site and congrats on the truck. Yeah your gonna need the big block mounts and lucky you they are 72 only!! The truck should have short water pump, of course it could have been changed. The clearance issues arise around the edge of the frame and the exhaust. Look in the parts for sale section and find what you need there. There are often guys junking out some 3/4 ton trucks that have had the big's in them.If being original looking is not a problem with you go to the upper left hand corner of the home page and click on the section marked tech tips for the 67-72, there is a post in there about the installation of later model[73 and newer] type clam shell mounts for the most inexpensive way to install the RAT motor in the truck. Jim

[stireson87]

thank you for the info. I am going to read up and start the install of my big block.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by stireson87

thank you for the info. I am going to read up and start the install of my big block.

If you are going to start reading, get one of these:

http://www.faxonautoliterature.com/S...manual&c=35087

There's a lot of bad information about this swap and going back to the book the guys who built your truck used to put it together is the very best source. The $40.00 you spend on it could actually save you $100.00s

[stireson87]

wow thanks man i have been wanting to get a manual on my truck but had never seen a good one to get thanks for the info.